Diesel Vehicles and You

Diesel Vehicles and You – Is It Time to Switch?

Gasoline powered vehicles are slowly being replaced by hybrid cars. Hybrids offer a substantial increase in fuel economy for a relatively modest increase in price. However, am I the only person to realize that the fuel figures posted by hybrid vehicles, which are, admittedly, much higher then their non-hybrid brothers, are right around the same figures posted by today’s conventional diesel engines?

Then it hit me; people are making this big ruckus about hybrid vehicles, yet they’ve forgotten about the amazing versatility and performance of diesel. Yes, you can get over 45 miles per gallon in a Toyota Camry Hybrid, but you can already get figures like that from the Volkswagen Jetta TDI or Golf TDI.

Misconceptions and Misinformation

Diesel engines of today are not the filthy, noisy, dirty engines of 25 years ago. Today’s diesel engines are quiet, powerful, efficient, and just as versatile as their gasoline counterparts. In fact, a 1998.5 Volkswagen Jetta TDI made 92 horsepower and 160 foot pounds of torque; the 1998.5 Jetta GLS made 115 horsepower and 120 foot pounds of torque. The difference is a barely slower top speed and a lot more “get up and go” power from the higher torque figure.

No, new diesel engines do not constantly plume out black clouds of smoke, and no, new diesel engines do not constantly smell like sulfur and beer. New diesel engines, operating under strict diesel engine legislation, are required to use ultra-low sulfur diesel, offer a scent that is less noticeable than gasoline, operate more cleanly and be capable of providing a whole lot more torque.

The next time that you hear someone tell you the downsides of diesel, always keep in mind that diesel, like all technologies, has advanced over the years. Fifty years ago, gasoline engines were underpowered and horribly inefficient. Today, gasoline engines are efficient, powerful, and the engine of choice for just about every manufacturer on the planet.

The Realities of Diesel

Diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines. This is a fact that can not be disputed simply because it has been proven time and time again. Manufacturers have adapted the diesel engine to suit any application of car, truck, van and SUV so it is time to increase consumer demand.

When you’re looking for a car that will achieve over 600 miles per tank, look for a diesel or hybrid. At the end of the day, we can tell you that the diesel is the cheaper of the two options.

Making Big Power from Efficient Vehicles

Making Big Power from Efficient Vehicles

The recent surge in popularity for fuel efficient vehicles, such as the Honda Insight or the Toyota Prius, has helped create and shape an entirely new and bustling industry. As the price of a barrel of oil soars, North American consumers are beginning to move away from bigger and more powerful vehicles and the trend is starting to lean towards efficient, capable, and economical automobiles.

This is evident by the massive effort of all the major automakers, including names typically associated with big block V8s and high horsepower ratings, to create vehicles that showcase the efficiency and can still be exciting and fun to drive.

Making Life Power

Saturn has recently introduced the Vue Green Line, which is a more fuel efficient and, surprisingly, more powerful version of the popular mini-SUV. The standard Vue makes around 150 horsepower whereas the Vue Green Line produces over 170 horsepower and achieves fuel economy ratings that hover just over 30 miles per gallon.

The reality is that the market is no longer starved for fuel efficient commuters that transform into fun-to-drive weekend rides. The Vue Green Line offers the utility of a SUV, yet the fuel economy of a compact car. For a SUV, the Saturn VUE marks a historic landmark.

With the introduction of vehicles like the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Honda Civic Hybrid, the hybrid auto market is once again revolutionized. These vehicles offer little driving experience that differs from the conventional gasoline engines and at the same time accomplish over thirty percent more mileage on the same amount of fuel.

Making Big Power… Period

So far, the big news has been on the hyper efficient vehicles and their respective fuel economy, yet companies like Lexus have been developing their own hybrids, quietly enjoying the lapse in press long enough to pump out vehicles that are exciting, and a blast to drive.

The Lexus LS 450h is a prime example of a hybrid that anyone would love to own. The 450h produces 430 horsepower and accelerates in the realm of some of the fastest sports cars on the planet. It packs the punch of a V12 and the fuel economy of a modern and efficient V6.

So the world has come to realize that hybrid vehicles aren’t just super efficient and that they aren’t resigned to the world of gas sippers and techno-crunchers. Hybrid vehicles, whether you choose to adopt them early or not, are an unavoidable reality. Open your arms, because they’re here to stay.

Most Efficient Diesel Engines

Most Efficient Diesel Engines – Achieving Incredible Fuel Economy

Gasoline engines have always been the mainstream source of power for an automobile. The high combustion power of gasoline makes it an ideal fuel to burn and the large supply means that there’s enough to power our economy. A byproduct of gasoline production, diesel, has also seen popularity as a fuel source. However, there were many downsides to a diesel engine from the past, and for that reason they never achieved the same kind of popularity as gasoline engines in North America.

The Downsides of a Diesel Engine

In the past, diesel engines were quite noisy and dirty, they produced clouds of black smoke and the engine itself was not very efficient. They gained massive popularity in Europe due to the inexpensive cost of diesel fuel when compared to gasoline.

In the past, diesel engines were terrific at generating lots of torque. However, they were not very good at generating sufficient horsepower. This kept diesel engines in the rear of most peoples mind, as anyone looking to have any kind of sporty experience with their automobile was forced to look elsewhere.

The amounts of torque generated by diesel engines were sufficient enough that they were ideally suited for trucks and transport vehicles. For many years in North America, the main application for a diesel engine was in a transport vehicle or a tractor trailer. It wasn’t until the 1990’s that diesel engines in cars started to gain popularity in North America with Volkswagen Jetta, Golf, and Passat TDI models.

Today’s Diesel Engines

Automotive manufacturers have spent a lot of time and money matching the technology and capability of diesel engines to gasoline engines. Today, a diesel engine is just as quiet, just as powerful, and much more fuel efficient than a gasoline engine in a similar model vehicle. Companies like Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen have been manufacturing diesel engines for decades and their newest models exemplify fuel efficiency, drivability and convenience.

Modern diesel engines produce ample amounts of torque, sometimes 50% or more over their gasoline counterparts, and recent innovations in turbo charging have allowed modern diesel engines to produce a significant amount of horsepower as well. Recent model introductions from Mercedes and Volkswagen have proudly shown off diesel engines with 200 or more horsepower and 300 or more foot pounds of torque.

The reality is that today’s diesel engines are clean burning, efficient and economical. They also have more than enough gusto to move you throughout your daily commute regardless of how you drive.

More Efficient Gasoline Engines

More Efficient Gasoline Engines – Achieving Incredible Fuel Economy

The last 15 years have been a sort of renaissance for automobiles: in the early 90’s we saw the introduction of several high performance sports cars, such as the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo or the Toyota Supra Twin Turbo, that pushed the limits on what a sports car should be; we witnessed the evolution of the mini-van, the creation and evolution of the sports utility vehicle, and the introduction of mega-efficient hybrid cars.

Many new technologies have been introduced that have made it possible for traditional gasoline engines to become incredibly fuel efficient without having to sacrifice drivability or utility. The Honda Civic, for example, was one of the first vehicles to receive a variable valve timing system, known as the Honda VTEC.

VTEC (which stood for variable valve timing and electronic lift control) varies the power band on the engine. At lower RPM’s the engine timing and mapping is set conservatively in order to create the best possible fuel efficiency; at higher RPM’s VTEC kicks in, raising the cam profile so that the engine burns more fuel and creates more power. The result is that vehicles can drive all day as an economical and efficient mode of transportation, yet can show a performance oriented character when thrown into the higher regions of its RPM range.

Nearly every manufacturer has some kind of variable valve timing system and each has employed it in good use. In fact, it is now common to see this type of system combined with other engine additions, such as a turbocharger or supercharger. Recent innovations in forced induction have allowed for the horsepower benefits of forced induction while minimizing the fuel cost.

Most new turbocharger or supercharger applications feature direct injection, which injects gasoline straight into the cylinder as opposed to the intake port. The result is an increase in horsepower and an increase in fuel economy. Turbochargers and superchargers, which were once reserved only for high performance or sport-oriented vehicles, are becoming increasingly popular as engineers continue to find ways to increase their fuel economy.

At the end of the day, however, the most efficient forms of the gasoline engine still come as small, dedicated power plants with a focus on fuel economy and nothing else. Vehicles like the Toyota Yaris (formerly the Echo), Honda Fit, Chevrolet Aveo, and Nissan Versa continue the tradition of a small bodied, low weight automobile with high efficiency engine. Ultimately, this means that vehicles that are capable of achieving 30, 50 or more miles per gallon are populating our roadways.

Today, Tomorrow, and Always

Future Car Technologies – Today, Tomorrow, and Always

Gas prices are rising. They have been noticeably rising for the last five years and there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that they will continue to rise in the years to come. The cost of fuel continually reminds us of the disadvantages of owning a vehicle; well, our wallets are constantly reminded, anyway.

The sudden and dramatic increase in the cost of gas, coupled with increased awareness of the worlds shrinking fossil fuel reserves, has spurred developments of alternative fuel sources and hybrid power trains.

Hydrogen Powered Vehicles

At the forefront of these new technologies is hydrogen power. Hydrogen, as it just so happens, is one of the most abundant resources on the planet and when it is combusted it leaves very little waste. In fact, the primary emission of a hydrogen powered vehicle is water.

Hydrogen needs to be compressed at high pressure in order to be stored in a way that can be used in a combustion engine. This process is currently expensive and impractical for the typical driver, though, you can be certain that as they become more mainstreamed, the price will come down.

Fuel Cells

Fuel cells act as a silent generator, creating an electric current from specific elements and conditions. There are many different types of fuel cells, and as the technology has advanced we have learned how to create more powerful fuel cells that take up less space.

Obviously, this has great applications for automotive technology. Vehicles powered by fuel cells, which, in themselves, are usually made from hydrogen, leave little or no waste behind, and are surprisingly efficient.

The only major drawback right now is that the range for a vehicle powered by fuel cells is quite small. This limitation is continually being improved upon and will likely match current rates within a few years.

Electric Vehicles

Though not a new idea, electric cars are gaining popularity as the cost of running them ($0.005 to $0.01 per mile) becomes realized. At one cent per mile, anyone can afford to drive an electric vehicle. As soon as the technology catches up with the concept expect electric vehicles to become commonplace.